Twin Cities archdiocese faces another sex lawsuit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A new lawsuit alleges that officials in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis allowed a priest to continue working with children despite reports that he sexually abused children.

Attorney Jeff Anderson filed the lawsuit Thursday against the Rev. Jerome Kern and the archdiocese.

Minnesota Public Radio News (http://bit.ly/HLMvi4 ) reports the lawsuit was brought by a man in his 50s named in court records as “Doe 26.” The man alleges Kern sexually abused him in the 1970s when the alleged victim was 12 to 16 years old.

Anderson says despite reports to archdiocesan officials over the years, the Catholic church moved Kern from parish to parish.

The archdiocese says it will investigate and respond to the claims.

Kern, now 72, did not immediately return a phone call Thursday for comment.